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(No Model.)

H. FRENCH.

ROPE LADDER. No. 366,825. Patented July 19, 1887.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARLCHV FRENCH, OF NE\V YORK, N. Y.

ROPE LADDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 366,825, dated July 19,1887.

Application filed April 9', 1887. Serial No. 234,229. (No model.)

To all whom. it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARLOW Fnnnen, of the city, county, and State of NewYork, have invented new and useful Improvements in Rope Ladders, ofwhich the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of my invention is to provide a new and improved rope ladderspecially adapted for fire-escapes and other purposes.

The invention consists of peculiarly-constructed rungs secured to ropescomposed of a metallic cable covered with fibrous material.

The invention also consists of various parts and details andcombinations of the same, as will be described hereinafter, and thenpointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar letters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is aplan view of my improved ladder, showing the ropes insection. Fig. 2 is a front elevation, partly in section, of part of aladder. Fig. 3 is a plan view of a rung before being attached to theropes.

The ropes A A of the ladder consist each of a metallic cable, B, coveredwith strands O of fibrous material, thus making the ropes A flexible andvery strong and durable, so that in case the fibrous strands G areburned or singed the wire cables B will still support consi derableweight.

The rungs D of the ladder are each made of a single piece of metal of Ushape, having at each end an ear, E, adapted to inelose the rope A.

The cars E may be formed like a split ring, as shown to the left of therung D in Figs. 2 and 3, and provided on their inner surface with aspiral projection, F, which embeds itself in the fibrous strands 0 whenthe split ring E is closed, as shown in Fig. 2, thus pre venting the carfrom slipping on the rope. The ears E may also be formed in the shape ofa fork as shown to the rightof the rung D in Figs. 2 and 3, each prong Gof the fork being provided with projections or lugs H, which embedthemselves in the fibrous strands 0 when the prongs G are closed aroundthe rope A, as shown in Fig. 1.

The projection F and the projections or lugs II are preferably stampedor cast into the cars E. The projection F may be formed on the prongs G,instead of the projection H, and the latter may be formed on the rung instead of the spiral projection. The ears E before being closed have theappearance as shown in Fig. S-that is, the split ring is open to admitthe rope A, after which the'ring is closed by pressing the ends of thering together. The prongs G stand parallel to each other to admit therope A, after which the prongs are pressed toward each other until theirouter ends overlap, as shown in Fig. 1. The U-shape form of the rungequalizes the strain on both ropes A when weight is ap plied to therung. The U shape of the rung also prevents slipping of the foot of theperson ascending or descending the ladder, and permits a firm grip withthe hand.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a rope ladder, the combination, with the ropes, of a rung made ofone piece of metal of U shape, and provided at its ends with earssecured to the ropes, substantially as described.

2. In a rope ladder, the combination, with the ropes, of a rung made ofone piece of metal of U shape, and provided at its ends with earsforming open ringsclamped upon the ropes, substantially as described.

3. In a rope ladder, a rung made of one piece of metal of U shape, andprovided at its ends with ears, each forming an open ring, having at itsinner surface penetrating projections, substantially as described.

4. In a rope ladder, a rung made of one piece of metal of U shape, andprovided at its ends with ears having at their inner surfaces spiralprojections, substantially as described.

- HARLOXV FRENCH.

Vitnesses:

TIIEO. G. IIosTEn, O. SEDGWIOK.

